Promoting Patient-Centered Counseling to Reduce Inappropriate Diagnostic Tests: Randomized Clinical Trial
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Unnecessary Procedures
- Sponsor
- University of California, Davis
- Enrollment
- 61
- Primary Endpoint
- Number of inappropriate diagnostic tests ordered
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 6 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
In this study, the investigators will develop and evaluate a novel intervention using standardized patients (SPs) -- or actors playing the roles of patients -- to enhance physicians' patient-centered counseling skills regarding two frequently overused, potentially inappropriate services in primary care: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for acute low back pain and bone densitometry in women at low-risk for osteoporosis. The investigators will further evaluate whether intervention effects on physician patient-centeredness generalize to counseling regarding other costly, unnecessary diagnostic tests.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Resident physician in family medicine or internal medicine who deliver primary care at one of two hospital-based primary care clinics at the University of California, Davis Medical Center Sacramento
Exclusion Criteria
- •Anticipated graduation in less than one year from enrollment.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Number of inappropriate diagnostic tests ordered
Time Frame: 9 months
Investigators will assess via blinded, standardized chart review whether study physicians ordered inappropriate diagnostic tests for unannounced standardized patients who request testing during three follow-up visits occurring 3 to 9 months post-randomization.
Secondary Outcomes
- Use of patient-centered counseling techniques(9 months)
- Actual diagnostic test ordering among real patients(9 months post-intervention)